5 Picnic Essentials You Cannot Live Without

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions about the product and the best picnic essentials are mine alone. #JifSummerSnacking #CollectiveBias

One thing I decided to do this year is spend more down time with my family. Life has been really hectic the last couple of years, and work and taking care of people have literally taken over my life. One of my favorite things to do is go on a picnic. Going on a picnic is great, if you have the right essentials when you head out. Here are my top 5 picnic essentials you cannot live without.

Picnics can be fun — if you have all the right elements to begin with.

5 Picnic Essentials You Can't Live Without

#1 The Perfect Spot

The perfect spot is always what sets the tone for an amazing picnic. My daughter and I have been so busy in the kitchen creating new recipes, that we decided to take Tucker, my chihuahua to the lake and scout out the perfect spot.

Looking out and watching the water while eating is so calming. If you have a lake around where you live, or a river, or something like that, try starting there for a great spot.

#2 The Perfect Picnic Blanket

I finally broke down and bought myself a picnic blanket. Before this, I used to use just a blanket — until the first time the wet ground beneath soaked right through and my pants got wet.

With a picnic blanket, the underside is made so that water does not get through so you can enjoy your picnic without any issues.

#3 The Perfect Basket

Now — you can use a plastic bag if you want, but who wants that? If you like to take picnics, invest in a real picnic basket.

It makes it easy to pack your food and because the inside is lined and made for food, you can keep things cold or hot. I found this one at Food Lion when I went shopping for for our picnic.

Also at Food Lion, I found the perfect picnic food, right on the peanut butter aisle, which brings me to point #4!

#4 The Perfect Food

What really makes a picnic amazing is the perfect picnic food. For me, I love finding easy to pack essentials — like Jif To Go® and Jif Bars.

I am a huge peanut butter fan. I've been eating it since I was a little girl. Jif has always been the only brand of peanut butter I trust.

They offer smaller, more portable way for me to enjoy it with their bars and to go cups.

The delicious Jif To Go® convenient snack is not just the right-sized cup, but it’s also perfect for dipping with my homemade crackers and to go along with fresh fruit. Peanut butter and fruit always go hand in hand.

These portable convenient cups are a great way to snack on the go, add to a picnic basket or add to a lunch bag or a backpack.

I also love the Jif bars because they offer me 7g of protein, which helps replenish my energy. I need a lot of that when I go on picnics, because after I relax and eat, I love to walk the area and get my exercise in as well.

Of course, other picnic foods that some of our favorites are sandwiches, veggies, and of course — watermelon!

#5 The Best Essential — RELAX!

The best picnic essential you can do for yourself is to put your phone down and just relax and enjoy the moment together.

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Jennifer Sikora is a food and travel blogger living in western Kentucky. You can always find her in the kitchen creating recipes or flying around the US on another exciting travel adventure. She loves coffee more than she loves her sleep and she is a die hard television and movie junkie.